Mangosuthu Buthelezi on People’s War by Anthea Jeffery

November 3rd, 2009 by Claire

People’s War: New Light on the Struggle for South Africa by Anthea Jeffery looks at a period in South African history that many celebrate as the seeding ground of freedom, but others would prefer to forget, for all the violence it witnessed.

The turbulent period between 1984 and 1994 saw over 20 000 people killed in what came to be known as “The People’s War”. Blame for the killings was largely laid at the door of the National Party and Inkatha Freedom Party. In People’s War, Jefferey offers a different perspective – one that has found sympathy with IFP leader MangoSuthu Buthelezi. In his online newsletter, Buthelezi comments on the book and the era it deals with:

My dear friends and fellow South Africans,
The publication of Dr Anthea Jeffrey's book, People's War, is an epoch-making event. It has reminded me of so many painful things in the past few decades. I have always stated that I am probably the most vilified political leader in South Africa over the last three decades.
This book reminds me of a meeting of the Central Committee of the Inkatha Freedom Party. As we were busy with the affairs of our Party, a taxi-owner arrived from Empangeni, Mr Dube. He was almost breathless as he told us that he had consulted his lawyer that morning. That lawyer happened to be a member of the ruling party by the name of Professor Ernest Mchunu. He was an MP in the first democratic parliament when the Government of National Unity assumed office in 1994.
Mr Dube told us of a conversation that he had had with his lawyer that morning. He said that Professor Mchunu said to him, “We are going to set up a commission which will expose Buthelezi as the murderer that he is. By the way, you say he is a Christian and a lay minister. We are going to expose him as the murderer that he is.” I also learnt from other sources subsequently that one of the targets of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was to demonise me and my Party. If there is any truth in this, it is the story told by Dr Jeffrey in People’s War.